Seal and the method of making same



June v18, 1957 w. M. BROOKS SEAL AND THE METHOD OF MAKING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1953 INVEN TOR.

Arrow 5y I June 18, 1 957 w. M. BROOKS 2,796,278

SEAL AND THE METHOD OF MAKING'SAME Filed July 1, '1953 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VV/A/F/QEO M 5/9001;

June 18, 1957 w. M. BROOKS 2,796,278

SEAL AND THEMETHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed July 1, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 2,796,278 SEAL AND THE METHOD OF MAKING SAME Winfred M. Brooks, West Orange, N. 1., assignor to E. J. Brooks Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 1, 1953, Serial No. 365,488 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-325) This invention relates to a seal, and to the method of, and means for, producing same.

The main object of the invention is to produce a seal that not only will break if tampered with but will also remains sealed when broken and, in addition, will present such an appearance to the would-be tamperer as to tend to discourage him even from attempting to unlock the seal.

The invention consists in 'a sealing means composed of a sheet material sealing element and strand material, said sealing element having a coil that surrounds the strand material, an intermediate part of the coil being crimped and lying separated from another portion of the sealing element by a gap. The invention further consists in the method of producing said seal and in the sealing tool whereby said seal can be sealed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the blank from which the sheet material sealing element is made;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the partly formed sheet material sealing element showing its shape when it is to be inserted into the sealing tool;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the sealing tool, partly broken away in section, showing the sheet material sealing element and the strand material inserted in the tool before the tool is operated;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the tool shown in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of arrow 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the plane of line 55 of Fig. 3, the sheet material sealing element and the strand material having been removed from the tool;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4 on a greatly enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 and shows the coiling operation of the sheet material sealing element at an intermediate stage of its progress;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 and shows the ceiling operation of the sheet material sealing element completed;

.Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the plane of line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 1(i10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the completed sealing means;

Fig. 12 is an edge view looking in the direction of arrow 12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an edge view looking in the direction of arrow 13 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view substantially on the plane of line 1414 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view substantially on the plane of line 15-15 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the finished seal shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 17 is a perspective View of a modified form of the invention; I

Fig. 18 shows the seal applied to the neck of a bag;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view showing the preliminary curling of the blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and shows a further step in the production of the sealing element; and

fnited States Patent 0 2,796,278 Patented June 18, 1,957

Fig. 21 shows the final step in the production sealing element shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, 30 indicates a flat sheet material blank of suitable shape comprising what may be described as a main-portion 31 and a wing-portion 32, from which blank a sealing element is to be produced. As the sealing element is to have a weakened Zone, it will be convenient to form such weakened zone 33 at the time of stamping out the blank.

The sealing element, 34, is shown in Fig. 2 and consists of main-portion 31 and wing-portion 32, the latter constructed as follows: said wing-portion is composed of two spaced-apart, oppositely facing, partly curled endsections 35 and 36, one of which, 35, is of larger diameter than the other, is connected to main-portion 31 and has an intermediate weakened zone 33 extending part way longitudinally thereof. Said end-sections 35 and 36 are connected at one side by an intermediate section 37 that extends substantially at right angles to main-portion 31. The method and means for converting blank 30 into sealing element 34 will be described at a later point in the specification. Sealing element 34 is inserted in of the sealing tool 38, strand material 39 is introduced into curled end-section 35 and the sealing tool is then operated to act on the sealing element.

The sealing tool can be actuated in any suitable way, such as by compressed air, but, in the present instance, it is preferably constructed and operated as follows: the sealing tool is provided with opposed die members 40 and 41 for the reception of sealing element 34. Die member 40 is provided with a pair of supporting ledges 42 and a pair of curved seats 43, the units of each of said pairs being separated by a central channel 44. The other, 41, of said die members has a pair of coil-engaging surfaces complementary to the lower pair of curved seats 43. 46 indicates a central punch carried by upper die member 41 and located intermediate the upper pair of coil-engaging surfaces 45 in the plane of channel 44 of the lower die member and extends below said coil-engaging surfaces 45; said punch 46 has a curved under-surface 47.

Suitable means to move one of said die members 40 and 41 with relation to the other are provided. In the present instance, 48 is a supporting member having an internal guide 49. Die member 41 is carried by a slide 50 that travels in guide 49. A spring 51, anchored in the bottom of guide 49, is provided, which spring tends to move slide 50 in an upward direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. 52 and 53 are a pair of levers pivotally connected together at 54, one of said levers, 52, being pivotally supported at 55 on supporting member 48, while lever 53 is pivotally connected at 56 to slide 50. It will be understood that, when lever 53 is swung in the direction indicated by arrow 57 of Fig. 3, slide 50 will move in a downward direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. Die member 40 is carried by a slide 58 also mounted 'in guide 49, and is normally moved into its upward position by a spring 59 bearing against a portion 60 of slide 50. Spring 59 is much weaker than spring 51, and the said upward movement of slide 58 is limited by means of a pin 61, extending into slot 62 of supporting member 48. The downward movement of slide 50 is transmitted to slide 58 by the interposed sealing element 34. Supporting member 48 is provided with an abutment surface 63 that stops the downward movement of slide 58, which latter engages said surface 63 with its surface 64. Therefore, on the continued downward movement of slide 50, slide 58 will stand still while slide 50 continues such downward movement, and will cease to support spring 59.

The method of closing sealing element 34 will now be described. Theoperator retracts slide 58 downwardly against the tension of spring 59 so as to admit of the insertion of sealing element 34 between d-ie members 40 and 41. In so doing, the operator will place curled end-section 35, of wing-portion 32, in the curved seats 43 and with upper curled end-section 36 beneath punch 46, body portion 31 being placed on supporting ledges 42 between side gauges 65. Die member 40 is now released by the operator and spring 59 moves slide 58 upwardly so as to hold the sealing element between the die members. Strand material 39 can now conveniently be placed in lower curled end-section 35. The operator now grasps supporting member 48 and lever 53, thereby moving them toward each other. The movement thus produced causes slide 50, carrying die member 41, to move downwardly and to transmit this motion through the instrumentality of sealing element 34 to die member 40 and slide 58. This motion continues until surface 64 of slide 58 engages surface 63 of supporting member 48, when the downward motion of slide 58 ceases, while the downward motion of slide 50 continues. The downward motion of slide 50 causes center punch 46 to begin the coiling of wing'portion 32 of the sealing element. In so doing, main portion 31 will rise from its horizontal position until it engages the tip of punch 46 (Fig. 7). It will be observed that, in thus rising, main-portion 31 closes the gap between curled end-sections 35 and 36, thereby trapping, or ensuring the retention of, strand material 39 within wing-portion 32. Further downward motion of die member 41 causes center punch 46 to continue the coiling operation and to engage the inner surface of lower section 35 to tear said wing-portion 32 in its weakened zone 33 and to crimp the central part of the coil. Eventually coil-engaging surfaces 45 of die member 41 act upon opposite ends of the coil flatten the same, this being made possible by the breaking through of punch 46 into central channel 44. During the foregoing movements, tapered face 66 of die 41 pinches wing-portion 32 against curved seats 43 at the place indicated by 67, and main-portion 31 of sealing element 34 relapses to its original horizontal position. It is to be noted that neither center punch 46 nor the crimped portion of the coil reaches the bottom of channel 44 (Figs. 9 and 10).

The sealing means produced by the above-described method and tool is shown in Figs. 11 to 15, and is constructed as follows: 31 indicates the main-portion of the sealing element, and 32 is the wing-portion which has now been formed into a coil 68 in which strand material 39 is held. Wing-portion 32 is connected at its base 69 with the main-portion. Coil 68 is compressed or partly flattened at its ends 70, and is crimped at its intermediate part '71. It will be observed that coil 68 lies entirely at one side of the plane of main-portion 31, and further that the crimped intermediate part of said coil lies separated from said main-portion by a gap 72.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that, if it is attempted, after sealing, to undo coil 68, it will be practically impossible to do so without causing a rupture of wing-portion 32. This is so because the presence of gap 72 leaves very little metal, at either of its ends, connecting main portion 31 with wing-portion 32. Furthermore, it will be seen that, if wing-portion 32 is thus ruptured, strand material 39 will still be held firmly by coil 68, and evidence of tampering will be clearly indicated. In addition, the fragile appearance of the seal, gap 72 being clearly visible, will have a tendency to deter a would-be tamper-er from an attempt to open the seal.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the finished seal shown in Fig. 11, strand material 39 having been threaded through an object to be scaled (not shown) and formed into a loop 73 in a well understood manner.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 16. The modification consists in having, in addition to a wing-portion that has been converted into a coil 68, also a second wing-portion 74. The seal will usually be shipped to the customer with one end of strand material 39 anchored in coil 68 and with the free end 75 of said strand material unsealed. The

user will now thread free end 75 of said strand material through the object to be sealed, after which wing-portion 74 will be inserted in a sealing tool as previously described in connection with the coiling of wing-portion 32. The free end 75 of strand material 39 will then be placed within wing-portion 74, after which the sealing tool will be operated in the manner previously explained, thereby completing the sealing operation.

In Fig. 18, sealing element 34 is shown applied to the flexible mouth 76 of a bag 77. In this case, mouth 76 of said bag constitutes the strand material.

Turning now to the method and means for converting the blank of Fig. 1 into the sealing element of Fig. 2, blank 30, as shown in Fig. 19, is acted upon by two die members, A and B, to curl slightly the tip of wingportion 32. Next, the blank, modified as shown in Fig. l9, is acted upon, in the manner shown in Fig. 20, by two die members C and D. After this, the blank is placed in a die having two die members E and F in which the curling of end-section 36 is carried still further to produce sealing element 34 of the form indicated in Fig. 2, and is now ready to be inserted in the sealing tool, as shown in Fig. 3.

I claim:

1. A sealing device comprising a sheet-material sealing element having a flat main-portion and a curled wingportion adapted to hold therewithin material to be sealed, an intermediate part of said wing-portion being substantially bent and there being a gap in said sealing element adjacent to the said bent part of the wing-portion, parts of the sealing element, at opposite ends of said gap, which constitute the sole interconnection between said main-portion and said wing-portion, being of such limited size and strength that they tend to break in the presence of force directed toward uncurling of said wing-portion.

2. A sealing device comprising a sheet-material sealing element having a flat main-portion and a wing-portion unbrokenly integral along a straight line of juncture with said main-portion; the wing-portion having two spaced, partly curled sections adapted to receive material to be sealed which is to be inserted laterally into position between said partly curled sections, and said partly curled sections being adapted to be further curled, a first one thereof within the other, to form a tube about the material to be sealed, and said sealing element having a line of weakness in said other of the partly curled sections, adjacent to and parallel to said line of juncture, said line of weakness terminating, at its opposite ends, inwardly of adjacent edges of said other of the partly curled sections and adapting the sealing element to tear along said line of weakness upon transverse bending of an intermediate part of said tube.

3. The method of producing a sealing device which comprises forming a line of weakness in a curlable wingportion of a sheet-material sealing element adjacent to and parallel to a line of juncture of said wing-portion with a main-portion of said sealing element, said line of weakness being made to terminate, at its opposite ends, inwardly of adjacent edges of said wing-portion, curling said wing-portion about material therewithin to be sealed and up to said line of weakness, and transversely bending an intermediate part of the curled wingportion to such an extent as to cause tearing of the sealing element along said line of Weakness.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 235,668 Brooks Dec. 21, 1880 745,036 Brooks Nov. 24, 1903 1,267,725 Wenk May 28, 1918 1,394,165 Gibson Oct. 18, 1921 1,517,670 Dietze Dec. 2, 1924 2,079,938 Hoornstra May 11, 1937 2,080,030 Bletso et al. May 11, 1937 2,599,318 Brooks June 3, 1952 

